The Holiday Gifts We’d Love to Give in 2017

Published November 13, 2017

Your guides

Gregory Han

Wirecutter Staff

Giving a gift is easy. Giving a gift that is well-received is much trickier. That’s why we’ve invited our staff to share the gifts they’ve personally loved giving or receiving over the years. These items range from practical to whimsical, but all have one thing in common: Each one has already brought joy into our own lives and is something we would want to give to people we love and care for.

That said, remember that giving a gift that’s meaningful to you won’t necessarily convey meaning to the person receiving it. American essayist Charles Dudley Warner once wrote: “The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value.” It’s an important reminder that the most appreciated gifts aren’t necessarily the most expensive nor surprising, but likely something the recipient already wanted. Research shows that no matter how sincere and heartfelt the gift, people prefer the predictable rather than unsolicited surprises. So if your mom makes it explicitly clear that she really wants a chainsaw and your dad has his eyes on a pair of Pokémon-shaped slippers, don’t argue—just get them what they want. The heart wants what it wants. But if you need inspiration, we’ve got your back.

Beautifully defied expectations

Who it’s for: Give this to a friend who feels stuck in a creative rut. Include a rain check for an afternoon hang where you bring an open ear and a large bucket filled with bottles of their favorite beverage.

Why it’s special: For the cost of a burrito, the Jacquard Indigo Tie Dye Kit includes everything you need to try shibori tie dye at home—including gloves, rubber bands (although I prefer kitchen twine), and illustrated tying and binding instructions. All you need to add is a 5-gallon bucket of warm water and fabric goods to dye. White cotton and linen shirts are the easiest for beginners to work with, but you can use almost anything made of natural fibers. I’ve tried Vans sneakers, canvas tote bags, and linen curtains with great results.

The beauty of the shibori technique, when practiced by untrained hands, lies in its resistance to expectations. The fun lies in embracing its unpredictability. You could tie the same pattern into two identical shirts and come out with two unique outcomes. Whether it’s a streak of chartreuse that failed to oxidize fully, a splash of cyan in the midst of a solid navy blue, or an asymmetric star where one had envisioned a perfect circle, the end result rarely aligns with the artist’s original intent. But among the dozens of garments and fabrics I’ve dyed, I’ve yet to be disappointed with any of the results.

Ease stress and wipe away worries with every gentle swing

Who it’s for: If you know someone in dire need of a vacation—but for some reason can get only as far as their own backyard—here’s an affordable ticket to some rest and relaxation.

Why it’s special: A few years back a friend gave me a Hammock Sky Brazilian Double Hammock as a housewarming gift, and ever since, its length has stretched across our small backyard as both a reminder and an invitation to occasionally stop working and start living. Within the soft comforts of a cotton hammock, conversations come easy, but relaxed silence comes even easier. Even in increments of a few minutes, the cocoon of a backyard hammock can ease stress and wipe away worries with every gentle swing. The invitation to gaze upward into the trees and sky, instead of a screen, is its universal appeal.

At 98 inches long by 59 inches wide, and with a weight capacity of 475 pounds, this hammock has room aplenty for one but is also spacious enough for my wife and me to lie side by side, or facing one another from opposite ends. During backyard parties, friends like to sit in it sideways together as a swing, while children are immediately drawn to its playful promise. Naps are guaranteed. And because it’s made with tightly woven cotton—versus an airy string-style design—it’s great to wrap around the body to create a cozy burrito effect, keeping out both chilly air and biting bugs.

A one-handed critter catcher

Who this is for: Give this to anyone who would rather relocate than smush pests, critters, and other uninvited houseguests. It’s especially helpful for the squeamish and those with small children.

Why we like it: This one-handed critter catcher has been in our house for nearly a decade and is our go-to housewarming gift. The miniature vivarium has a built-in magnifier for looking at the bugs you catch outside, but the true magic is that it lets you easily catch bugs inside, at some distance, without resorting to the glass-and-paper trick or having to clean roach parts off the floor. Creatures you like but don’t want in your living space (spiders, bees, moths, little lost lizards) can be safely observed and then released gently outside, and pests like roaches can be flung with satisfying force, as from a bug atlatl. We use ours weekly, and if your giftees live somewhere with lots of creepy-crawlies, they will too.

A little extra power, or a little more protection

Who this is for: Choose this for the Stevie Nicks mystic who likes to talk with their hands, or the severe pragmatist who needs a little more woo-woo in their life.

Why we like it:This vibrant enameled white-bronze ring is the updated design of my two favorite pieces of jewelry—two creepy-beautiful eye rings that turn my hands into a little face. The iris color reminds me of the Technicolor blue in the center of a Turkish glass evil eye amulet. Almost every woman I know in Northeast Los Angeles has at least one Dream Collective piece in their jewelry box because the designs are always interesting, unique, and affordable.

An admirer on Sunset Boulevard once asked me what the ring meant—I don’t know what the designer meant, but I half-seriously responded that it was the physical representation of the female gaze. When I feel I need a little extra power, or a little more protection, I put an eye ring on each middle finger and gesticulate a bit more than I usually do.

The field guide every birder needs

Who this is for: It’s perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to quickly and easily identify birds in their backyard, at the park, or on vacation just about anywhere on our continent.

Why we like it: Over 60 million Americans watch birds, making it one of the most popular hobbies in the US. But the term “bird-watching” isn’t quite accurate: What folks are really trying to do is identify birds—in their backyards, on local holiday counts, or in parks. I’ve been a bird-watcher since I was a kid, mostly because my father, Richard Koeppel, was one of the world’s best at the activity, amassing a life list of more than 7,000 of the world’s 9,500 known species. You likely don’t want to—and probably shouldn’t—go that far. But whether you’re a beginner or an expert, a pair of great binoculars isn’t enough.

Every birder needs a field guide that’s well-organized, authoritative, portable, and easy to use. Though you can find dozens of such guides out there, the Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America by Kenn Kaufman is my personal favorite. It’s exceptionally easy to go from seeing a bird to narrowing down the possibilities to making an exact identification using the guide’s unique digitally simplified photographic illustrations. The bird images are modified to accentuate specific points of differentiation so that you can quickly focus on the distinctive elements of any bird’s appearance before it flies off. For me, this is a superior approach to standard photographs, which show one specific bird that may or may not look much like the avian specimen you’re viewing in the wild.

The Kaufman guide is comprehensive—you don’t need to buy different editions for different regions—and pocketable. The paper stock is rugged too, and the book’s vinyl cover will withstand the elements. I love this guide so much, I have two of them: one for the glove box of my car, and another for my windowsill.

Like a hug from San Francisco

Who this is for: Give this sweatshirt to anyone who needs to transition from city streets to a bonfire on the beach. Or anyone who likes hugs.

Why we like it: At the peak of the hype surrounding American Giant sweatshirts, when new stock was selling out as soon as it became available, my secret was that I could walk into the the company’s downtown San Francisco office and grab one off the shelf for my family and friends who weren’t so fortunate. The famed sweatshirts are made of a thick, structured material that needs a few washes before it turns into the coziest sweatshirt possible. They also have a lifetime warranty and an effortlessly cool modern look.

I eventually moved away from San Francisco and decided it was time to buy my own American Giant sweatshirt—an oversized Classic Crew in a limited-run cranberry color. Every time I pull it on, it’s like a hug from San Francisco. The sweatshirt is polished enough that I can wear it with some skinny jeans and sneakers and feel at home walking through my urban neighborhood, but it’s also that exact cozy sweatshirt I want when I’m sitting next to a bonfire in the woods. I never expected a sweatshirt to be the most important item in my closet, but this is it.

—Signe Brewster, staff writer

Cut through city noise with good cheer and charm

Who this is for: This is the choice for anyone in your life who rides a bike—particularly commuters who have to negotiate crowds of bikes, flocks of pedestrians, and lanes of cars. It’s also good, though, for road racers who want to lighten things up in the peloton.

Why we like it: The Spurcycle Bell is an investment as far as bike bells go, but I have one on each of my (six and counting) bikes, and I buy it for every friend or relative who starts riding bikes. The stainless steel dome is small and unobtrusive yet produces a big sound when the brass clapper strikes it. The melodic chime cuts cleanly through city noise, warning oblivious fellow riders or Uber drivers or street crossers with their noses in their phones of your approach with good cheer and charm. The bell fits on any size of handlebar—including those fancy, fragile carbon-wing types—and it’s sleek enough that even the most style-conscious “I won’t sacrifice looks for safety” cyclist won’t object to it on aesthetic grounds.

If the cyclist you love, and want to keep safe, happens to believe that bells and helmet mirrors and high-viz clothing are only for newbies, let me leave you with this image: In an Eastern Sierra stage race a few years back, the fastest cyclist I know—who once held more King of the Mountain titles on Strava than anyone in the Bay Area—was smoothly overtaking rider after rider, merrily ringing his Spurcycle as he passed by them. Now that’s cool.

—Christine Ryan, senior editor

Everything a fledgling Dungeon Master needs

Who this is for: Give this set to anyone who has expressed an interest in Dungeons & Dragons but hasn’t taken the plunge, or anyone who appreciates cooperative board games and collaborative storytelling.

If you and a group of (in-person or online) friends have ever wanted to play, the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set is an outstanding place to start. For about $30, this box includes a set of dice, an abbreviated rulebook that focuses on the basics, premade characters, and a short prewritten adventure with everything a fledgling Dungeon Master needs to guide the group through its first play sessions.

What makes the Starter Set great is that it meets new players halfway, giving them an entry point into the game without overwhelming them. The premade characters teach you how the game’s systems work, easing new players into the fundamentals before they create heroes from scratch. And the prewritten adventure gives new Dungeon Masters a good idea of how battles, conversations, and exploration go—your first time running a game will always be nerve-racking, but the book takes a lot of the pressure off.

If you like the Starter Set, it’s an easy gateway to the Player’s Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and the full campaign books that Wizards of the Coast publishes semiregularly. If you don’t like it, hey, you’re out only $30, and you’ve tried something new!

—Andrew Cunningham, lead editor

Tea for two, forever

Who this is for: Give this to lovers of great design, tea, and coffee—and the pleasure of making them without a machine.

Why we like it: I had been using a Le Creuset enameled tea kettle for a decade, but this summer it finally began to rust out. I can’t complain—that was 10 years of reliable service. But for my birthday, I asked my wife, Lindsay, for the matte-finished stainless tea kettle by legendary Japanese designer Sori Yanagi. (It also comes in a polished version.) It’s a design masterpiece that graces millions of homes in Japan and is likely to last beyond my own lifetime.

I would never spend $85 on myself for something so simple as a kettle, but since Lindsay and I both celebrated milestones this fall by promising each other a special gift, I figured, what the heck? I love it every time I use it, and she loves knowing that she gave me something I enjoy and treasure.

The kettle is beautiful, and exquisitely engineered and constructed: The sinuous spout pours smoothly and never dribbles, as it’s welded seamlessly to the wide, shallow, flat-bottomed body, whose form delivers more rapid boiling than typical squat-bodied kettles. (I timed mine: 2 minutes, 45 seconds to bring a pint of water from tap cool to a full boil.) The lid has a pair of discrete holes on its edge to let out steam and prevent rattling—the sort of thoughtful design Yanagi was known for. And the ergonomic resin handle (the same material as is used on top-quality kitchen knives) fits the hand perfectly and stays cool when the kettle is heating water. Being made of steel, the kettle will work on any type of stove—induction, infrared, glass-top, exposed-coil electric—though I think it’s especially pretty reflecting the cornflower blue of gas flames in a dark kitchen. I’m an early riser, often up before the sun; my first act is to put the kettle on. It’s a pleasure to begin the day with this simple but lovely tool.

—Tim Heffernan, home editor

The only watercolor set I ever want to use

Who this is for: Give this to a loved one who is into watercolors or someone who is trying to pick it up for the first time. Adult and kid painters alike will truly appreciate the opacity, pigment, and gloss—they can even paint on dark paper.

Why we like it:Kuretake watercolors are not like any other watercolor paints. Made by a 115-year-old sumi-ink manufacturer in Nara, Japan, these paints occupy a space somewhere between watercolors and gouache—they can flow, dilute, and mix like watercolors but have the opacity, pigment, and impressive vividness of acrylic paints, making them brighter and more glossy on the paper than pretty much any other watercolor you’ll find.

Since I picked up painting a few years ago as a meditative practice, I’ve personally gone through numerous watercolor sets on my own personal Wirecutter quest. The Kuretake set is the only one that has prompted me to buy multiple sets, and the only one I ever want to use. And if you want your giftee to stay in touch, give these paints along with a set of Strathmore Watercolor Postcards and some Pentel water brush pens to complete the circle.

A perfect match, even when mismatched

Who this is for: Give this to a lover of thoughtful design who knows that a set of mugs can be totally mismatched while matching perfectly and literally.

Why we like it:Hasami’s line of porcelain is a modular set of plates, bowls, and mugs that are built around a common footprint and style. You can stack up two mugs, a sugar pot, a milk pitcher, and a lid in an elegant column. The beauty of Hasami porcelain is that the pieces always look like a set, even when they’re all different colors.

You can buy Hasami ware in four different glazes, as well as in wood (for some pieces), and there’s something viscerally satisfying about putting together this set of cups, or plates, or trays, and having them fit together like Lego. And because their design is so simple, any two Hasami pieces appear as a perfect match, even when mismatched. They also pair nicely with other styles of china and ceramics. I’ve taken to giving them to people I care about who have an eye for design (and a love of hot drinks), not just because they look amazing (which they do) but also because they offer an open-ended proposition—if the person wants to expand their collection, they easily can. But the pieces are certainly beautiful on their own.

Wind beneath your (butterfly) wings

Who this is for: Any variety of these would make a great gift for the Snow White in your life, the hippie nature lover, or just someone who loves new and interesting jewelry.

Why we like it: I discovered PetalConnection butterfly earrings by accident as I was searching online for butterfly taxidermy as a way to decorate my apartment. But when you’re a nature nerd, decorating yourself is even better than decorating your apartment. Bonus insider tip: The butterfly “aesthetic” is having a moment in the high-end fashion scene at the moment, which means your giftee can be ahead of the game when Meryl Streep dressed as Anna Wintour evaluates their outfit.

PetalConnection is run by a mother-daughter team who started out by raising their own flowers for jewelry and eventually expanded to include colorful butterfly (and moth) wings. Despite these earrings’ larger size, they are lightweight and remain comfortable even after hours of showing them off. I own several pairs that get nonstop compliments in the city and country alike.

Whoever has the chillest vacation wins

Who this is for: Choose this for anyone who could use a relaxing evening activity with friends or family, or anyone enjoys board games (but not games that force you to be a backstabber).

Why we like it:Tokaido is a board game with beautiful art and a relaxing concept: Whoever has the chillest vacation wins. You and your companions journey through Japan, staying at inns, eating delicious food, taking baths, buying trinkets, admiring art, and visiting temples along the way. Many competitive board games encourage cutthroat tactics, but Tokaido’s simple concept and peaceful atmosphere make for a wholly pleasant group activity.

The base game is straightforward and easy to learn, so it’s a great gift for any skill level, from your board game group to your extended family. The expansions (Crossroads and Matsuri) add some strategic depth by offering even more ways to relax and to attend exciting festivals. And the Collector’s Accessory Pack includes character figures, metal coins, and even a soundtrack that can accompany your journey and make the game feel even more thoughtful and special.

—Kimber Streams, lead editor

A cozy base layer for little ones

Who this is for: Give these to humans you love and want to keep warm. Use the shirts and pants as a base layer for bitter-cold winter days, or as pj’s when the thermostat is turned down (or the heat ain’t working).

Why we like it: My first winter of motherhood was cold. Temperatures hovered in the 30s, and the heat intermittently refused to turn on in our tiny Midtown walk-up. A friend gave us a Polarn O. Pyret merino wool onesie, and I dressed Lucy, my baby, in it daily as a sort of second skin. At first I worried Lucy wasn’t warm enough—what parent wouldn’t?—but I soon found that with enough layers she stayed toasty. When she grew out of that onesie, I bought a new one along with a pair of long johns.

These clothes aren’t cheap, but they are worth the money. The merino is super soft, it breathes well, and it hasn’t pilled after dozens of washes (although moths and children have gnawed some holes in it). We’re now on our third set (shirt and pants), which we’ve used for a few winters thanks to the stretchy nature of the jersey. My second daughter (pictured) is just growing into them. When my girls wear these, I rarely worry about them getting cold. We’re now in a properly heated apartment, but these pieces still make great pajamas, as well as loungewear for playing on the deck during chilly mornings.